Dark Heroes with Darker Methods

Video game heroes are a complex lot, arguably moreso than in movies or any other entertainment medium. That’s because players typically take control of a protagonist in order to untangle problems and bring them to an agreeable conclusion – but since we interact directly with games, we can travel all kinds of paths through all kinds of terrain on our way to solve said problems. That’s why a game hero can be an anointed dragon-slayer whose hobbies include beating up old ladies.

Here are ten of gaming’s anti-heroes and examples of their darker activities and motivations. Beware of spoilers. Here’s a big one to start you off: Heroes can be terrible.

Booker DeWitt (BioShock Infinite)

BioShock Infinite’s bristly-chinned protagonist has a laundry list of sins that’s longer than the Songbird’s left wing. He garnered a high body count at the Wounded Knee Massacre of 1890, he’s overly-enthusiastic about the drink, and he’s racked up huge gambling debts. And we’re not talking about owing some pub bum ten cents after a fly landed on the left puddle of whiskey-tinged puke instead of the right one. We’re talking about the kind of bets that lead to dark men demanding a payment that can't possibly be measured in money. Booker’s response: “Well, OK. Aw shoot, maybe that wasn’t such a good idea."

Wander (Shadow of the Colossus)

The hero of Shadow of the Colossus does a pretty bad thing in hopes of reviving his dead lover, but it’s kind of impossible to hate him for the deed. If someone you cared for bit it, you’d probably do anything to get him or her back. You might make a deal with a demon. You might even beat down the stone guardians of your home country with a holy sword that doesn’t belong to you.

Juliet Starling (Lollipop Chainsaw)

Juliet Starling is a cheerleader who moonlights has a zombie hunter because it’s, like, her destiny or some junk, y’know? Juliet enjoys applying chainsaws to zombie flesh, but that doesn’t necessarily make her an anti-hero. Nobody cares about the feelings of zombies. There’s never any reason to. You may as well apply a chainsaw to a stack of tires. However, whereas some girls her age accessorize themselves with Yorkshire terriers, Juliet carries the still-living severed head of her boyfriend, Nick, on her hip. That’s unsettling on its own, but what’s really creepy is that she cut off his noggin to keep him alive after he suffered a zombie bite. Hands up if you’d want to live out the rest of your life as a head bouncing on a girl’s hip.

Supposedly Juliet and Nick still love one another, but it’d be a lie to say their relationship is without issues.

Red (Pokemon)

This cap-wearing goon is supposedly pals with all his pocket monsters, but honestly? There’s no way for us to know for sure. Sure, wild Pokemon might spend their lives waiting for a pheromone-reeking pre-teen to flush them out of the grass. They might also be suffering from Stockholm syndrome. Who can tell? The little buggers can’t really talk.

Interesting sidenote: Fans have noted that, in the Pokemon anime, Team Rocket member James grows his Pokemon menagerie by simply asking the Pokemon if they’d like to join him. Gee! Who’s the villain, again?

Renegade Shepard (Mass Effect Series)

Space is a cold, black place. And there’s a lot of it. Sometimes a Commander needs to go “renegade” and build up a hard shell against the vacuum and all its hostilities if he or she is to protect his or her crew. That includes doling out harsh discipline, pushing mercenaries out windows, sneering, swearing, and, most importantly, kicking up a fuss when you think an Asari merchant is discriminating against the poor.

Mega Man (Mega Man Legends Series)

The Blue Bomber that held the starring role in the Legends series is a little more complex than our original 8-bit buddy. For starters, classic Mega Man would never kick dogs, hurl pigs, shoot birds, or call Roll a “busybody.” The Legends’ iteration of Mega Man, however, is capable of wreaking all that havoc on wildlife, to say nothing of his own sister’s emotions. Not only that, he has the option to bore straight to the heart of a problem regardless of who or what gets hurt. Oh, the villainous Bonne family is using a sacred artifact to shield their war machine? Take out the hostage. Problem solved. Hope you didn’t care too much about your stupid magic statue, bleak desert town.

Link (Legend of Zelda Series)

“Hylians, beware. Link will break your crockery, steal your money, and shear your lawn whether you want him to or not. He whips his horse, forces her to clear dangerous jumps, and disobeys his elders—I don’t know about you all, but when my uncle tells me to stay in bed while he goes out for a minute, I do what he says. Luckily, you need not fear this tyrant for much longer. Us chickens are drawing up defense plans…”

Gabriel Belmont (Castlevania: Lords of Shadow Series)

German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche once suggested that those who hunt monsters should take care not to become monsters themselves. Unfortunately, Nietzsche would not pen this poignant statement until centuries after vampire hunter Gabriel Belmont made a whole bunch of irredeemable decisions that resulted in the erosion of his morals. Gabriel’s single-minded drive to root out evil and revive his lost love leads to the death of innocents, which in turn blackens his soul. The world subsequently christens him with a new, more fitting name. Hint: Starts with “Drac,” ends with “ula.”

The Dragonborn (Skyrim)

It’s not hard to understand why there can only be one Dragonborn running around Skyrim at a time; it’s just not a good idea to have more than one mortal slinging around the mighty dialect of the dragons. If two Dovahkiin ever met and got into an argument about horse-parking, the world itself might be ripped apart. Problem is, that solitary hero may gradually turn to thievery and assassination, or they may simply Fus Roh Dah their housecarl off a cliff because it’s kind of funny.

Well, when a sole savior is granted the power to defeat dragonkind, you need to take the bad with the good. Dovahkiin, Dovahkiin, please don’t steal our sardines.

Every Protagonist From Every Grand Theft Auto Game Ever (Grand Theft Auto Series)

Bang Bang! Screeech!

“Get outta the car!”

Wee-oo, wee-oo! Vrrrroom. Thud. Crunch. Splat. Gurgle.

“Try and change the radio station an’ I cut your hands off. Flock of Seagulls is the greatest band in the world.”